Tractor hitch



' Feb. 20,1923. ,1,4416J25 J.MAQER TRACTOR HI TCH Filed Mar. 12, 1921 l? T TORMES@ AJosezrri Manna,

CO., INC., A-CORPORATION'OF PENNSYLVANIA, Y i l i Tenemos kzamora.

'Application inea Marchie, 192ia Serin NQ. 451,721.`

suitablepower mechanismsupported by and' movable with a pair of traction wheels, a

rearwardly and upwardly extending handle or paii` of handles for guiding the tractor and removable caster wheels inthe rear `of the Atraction wheels which serve to maintain the equilibrium` of the tractor.` A tractor Ofthis general character when employed in agricultural o erations or the like ma be suitably'coupled' to a trailing implement,

such for example, as a cultivator, and which it is effective to draw over the ground. In order to vattain the most` satisfactory results it `is requisite to arrange the coupling means 'in such manner as to permit relative movement to take place between the tractor and the implement especially when the latter is of a ltype which is supported on its own wheels, since in the absence of'p'rovision for 'such movement'the wheels of the tractor and of the implement are prevented. from independently following and accommodating themselvesvto inequalities in the surface being traversed which results in binding and straining the various parts and in generally unsatisfactory operation.` o

The principal object'ot my invention is to provide va simple and effective hitch or (':oupling means for 4coupling an agricultural implement or the like to a garden'tractor 'which under operativeconditions, will permit the freedom of movement between the implement and the.r ltractor requisite for support the tractor in operative' position `and entirely obviatingfthe necessity for utilizing "l the ordinary manner. The vability to disthe caster wheels to eli'ect such support in card the caster wheels is advantageous vin or riariienniirnui,,riiivivsrnvnmm Assieme 'ro fs. L; ALLEN a that as the implement wheelsfare ordinarily further` removed from the .tractor wheels than are the caster wheels when in their usual position,` that portion ofthe weight of thel tractor which under operative conditions'in :1J-combination embodying my inventionA is supported by the implement wheels is less than that ordinarly supported by the caster wheels. Additionally asgenerally the ysize of the Vcaster wheels is limited by structural requirements while rthe size of the implement wheels is not, the latter'are made of 'considerablyv greater diameter than the former. Thus, as the weighton the drawn wheels is less, and as their diameter is gen,- erally `greater in anloperativecombination fof `tractor and implement coupled together by my improved hitch than in one in which required from the tractor to bination is materially lessened.

My invention further contemplates the production of a hitch `or coupling means `which can be readily attached to and usedlin connection withl garden tractors of different makes without necessitating material changes i therein; which may be readily mounted on orfdismountefd from the' tractor; which is simplev in construction, comprises but a relatively small number of parts and 1s not liable to get out of order or be damaged i,

when in use. g My invention further includes all of the other novel objects and features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more deli-A nitely specified andxdfescribed.

ln the accompanying drawing Ihave illus- `trated certain embodiments of n'iyinvention and have shown them in operative 'conneo' tion with a garden tractor of well known formzand serving to connect, thereto a typical wheeled trailingimplement'.V ris the implement may be'` of any desired construction ,I have only shown thewh'eels and a portion of the frame thereof, and, additionally as the specific forniand details ofconstruction and arrangement ofthe tractor form no part of the present invention I have, similarly, only illustrated such parts thereot and these in a more or less diagrammatic Way, as are necessary to a proper understanding of the invention. lt will therefore he understood that the illust-ration of the tractor proper and ot the implement are to be merely considered as typical and that in consequence any toi-rn oit' tractor or implement other than those shown may he employed.

In the said drawing` Fig. l is a viewin side elevation, with certain portions hrolren away, showing in full lines the tractor and implement `connected in operative relation by means oit iny in'iproved hitch, the posi.- tion ot one ot' the ordinary caster wheels ot the tractor' and ot its supporting means lo ing indicated. in dotted lines, these parts however eing preferably removed when the hitch is en'iployed; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal fragment, ,.'y section on the line 2-2 in l looking in the direction ot the arrows, the in'ipleinent and its connected parts being swung' to the lett into angular relation with the center line of the tractor to illustrate theoperation ot' the parts in turning as at the end of the row which is being' cultivated.

Fig. 5? is a i'raginentary detail view l`denierally similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slightly inodilied 'torni oi the invention, and Fig. 4l is `a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3 but in a position corresponding to that shown in Fie'. l. Like numerals are used to designate similar parts in the several Vtignes.

-'llhe tractor fraeinentarily shown in Fie'. 'l comprises the traction wheels and hood Bheneath which... it willhe understood, is located the inotor and suitable connections therefrom tor rotating tliewheels7 the niotor being supported on a suitable traine or housing 4. to which is rigidly secured in any suitable vn'ianner a rearwardly projecting casting;v 5.

The casting may he provided. with a rearwardly extending' arin .6 directed upwardly at its outer extremity to provide a boss 'l' l'or the reception ot a` pivot pin S which. passes horizontally through the hess and serves to support Ithe transversely entending.; wheel har l0 which, in turn, normally cai'- rirs supporting brackets 1.1 in wl'iicli. are secured vertical portions oi the downwardly and rearwardly directed Acaster wheel. supports l2 at the reain'iost extremities of -.\'hirh. are normally mounted the caster wheels i3 one on each side of the machine. The pin S is operatively held in the hess by a nut V.l1-l; or in any other suitable way so that it may he readily disinoiinted therefrom il.: desired and as is preferable when my improved hitch heing` utilized. with the tractor.

' pair oft preferably rearwardly dive/rg .ing steering; handles l5 are provided and arranged for vertical movement with respect tothe@ Lig 5 1 'eli/I. Suit-@ble meme?, Q011 veniently by providing the casting` with laterally spaced upwardly directed ears 16 hetween which is positioned a casting l@ coniprising` a pair ot laterally spaced rearwardly diverging' sockets tor the reception olf the forward ends ot the steering 'handles the casting hemp; rotatively supported on the ears hy a. pivot QQ passing` transversely through the ears and through the casting. For yieldingly supporting; the weight oit the handles a rod 22 may he pivotally supported on a hoss 28 toi-ined on the casting 5 and arranged to loosely extend through a loess 24C on the casting' 16, a coil spring 25 arranged between the `tace orn the latter boss and an adjusting member E26 preflerab'ly threaded onto and movable relatively to the roth serving to yieldingly resist the tendency ot the handles to niove downwardly under the action ot gravity. y

The particular construction and arrangement of the various parts hitherto described and which may he modified as desired as the saine term no part of the present invention, will he readily coinprehended hy those tainiliar with the art and require no further description.

The implement to he attached to the tractor may comprise supporting wheels 30 carried on an axle 3l or otherwise suitably supported and in the torni shown the zii-lehetween the Wheels is carried upwardly adjacent each wheel and then transversely to torni a yoke such as is frequently employed in implements of this character. Extending over and supported on this yoke7 thence extending forwardly and angularly downward therefrom and thence horizontally torwardly are a pair of complementary, laterally spaced draft hars Sconstituting draft ineans, which are rigidly secured to the in any suitable manner as by a loraclret 36 bolted to the hars and to the yoke, Freni the yoke these hars may conveniently extend rearwardly to support 'the operato"s seat t not shown) as the particular torni et implement typically illustrated is intended to he ridden by the operator when in use.

iftdiacent their I entrer-ities the dratt bars are respe rely directed. ananlarly inward and thence i so as to snugly receive hei .en 'tlieni a rearwardly directed iin or nf'el'i 38 prt iiily integrally iliornied.,with au eye /l-O which. is provided with a central vert ically extending cylindrical aperture. The tin is secured lie-- tween the torward ends Vthe `liars isi any suitable .manner conveniently hy plurality or' holts 4l.. A

ln the particular torni oi. tractor illustrateda the rearwardly entendit]gg:` arni 6 is provided with an integral downwardly and rearwardly extendingQ and vertically dis posed `strengtheniiiggweb or cenit 45 which is' conveniently employed for the attach parallelV relation ,ment of certain parts ofthe hitchnow to be described, `but itwill'be understood that in .the absence of the comb as might well be the case in other maliesof tractors, some other portion of the tractor would neces- Vsai-ily be employed for 'their attachment,

said parts VYundersuch circumstances being modified if necessary in minor particulars to meet thecondition-s encountered. However, when the tractor embodies a web or equivalent partv I lpreferably position on opposite sides thereof brackets and 51 both bracketsf'and the web being drilled for the passage of bolts-52 which conveniently serve to removably secure the brackets on'the web. `'lherear end of each bracket abuts against the forward side" of Ya substantially arcuatev member 54,'herein-` after more particularly described,L and to which it is rigidly secured by one-or more` rivets while forward of the `web the brackets are preferably ,respectively angularl'y outwardly offset7 thence directed lon`r` gitudinally and thenA turned inwardly iny opposite :directions to provide portions 56 yand 57 spaced longitudinally from each; other andlying at right angies to thelongitudinal center line of the tractor, said portions being provided with aligned holes for the passage l of :the lcylindrical pivot pin '60 which extends'lhorizontally through the' holes andis retained in position'thereinjin any convenient wayas yby cotter pins'61.

The forward end of the pivot pin which Yis preferably substantially l.shaped in sidev elevation is turned vertically downwardly 'and rests adjacent they forward face of the portion 57 of the bracket 5l, the extremity of this Dart of the pin being` adapted tol -eXtend through the eye ett) carried by .the

vrtnitact along its lower edge with the upper surface of the draft bars and there,- by. in the absence of the usual easter wheels of the tractom is effective to `verticallysupport and maintain'the equilibrium of the latter@lv if desired, la .preferably someivhat resilient keepermaybe bolted to a trans- I'versely extending support 66 or otherwise conveniently attached to the draft bars ad- 'jacent its rear end and arranged to cont-actl 'at its other end with the, upper edge of the arcuate member,V the keeper thus being effective to forcethe latter toward the bars if under opeiativefconditions,'themem-'- ber should-.owing to` inequalities1in'ftheFf ground, tend. to undulyseparatefreinthev bars. ,A n. lilith the., severa-l lparts` constructed f f referably substantially asrdescribed, it vwi l be' .y g

tractor. through themedium ofy the bolts' 542;

:apparent that` the arcuate member, brackets v50'v and 5l and pivotpin may be read-ily. .-.unitarilyattaehed to orfreinoved from lthef; L

'7. 5ikl `that with these parts in position on' the tractor theV implement may lbe readilycou? pled to the npivotpin or unccupled therei fromv by inserting" the pin* in .the eye 40" or removing it frornftlie, eye', and that'when so coupled vthe r tractorwill z be maintained inupright position through the vcoaction of` y the arcuate nieinber'l. and draft bars .When so coupled to theimplement, the trac- 8 tor maybe readily steered 'in` the ordinary manner .by V'swinging the handles n l5 to they right or left,under .which circumstancesA a relative turning movement takes place' jubetween'the implement and the tractor'about" the vertical portion ofythe" pivot f pin7V the,`

bars movinlo"V alongthe arcuate member I 3 to the right or leftas the'case may be, while as .the tractor moves ahead the draft of the `f tractor isV imparted to the draftbarsf. and ythence to. thevimplement through the'meff' -g -difuun of the :bracket and verticalj pore tion of the pivot pin'` which Tabutsy against the `forward face of thewportion" 5.7'. *Furi*-` thern'ioregy if, .owing to?" inequalities inthe portion thel pivot pinv free to'. turnin the i brackets ion Iits longitudinal axis and thus permit` the implement 'and tractor to roll "with respectrto eachother. As in the forni i" of lthe invention hitherto" described vthe bars both normally 'contact-1 with; the arcuate member atspaced poi.`nts,'under such con` ditions one of tliedbars will.- of course `de- -p'art slightly/from the arcuate member,` the resiliency of the' keeper 65 4if employed be- 1 .-ino; sufficiently to permit this action't'o take place without'undue binding or :straining of the parts. rllhe utmost .freedomiof movement between the tractor and-the implement therefore possible'under operative conditions. both tbetracton'and the-implement' being` 'tree rto,assumethe,diitferent positi'msf` required as they moreover the uneoualsui. y Jface of the ground;while-the steering ofthe Y tiactfninaybe readilyfaccoinplished by Y swingi-ing;- the handles tothe rightor leftin' the manner* already described.

ln theforin of the invention sliou'n "in Figs; and; zf'instesuil lofnarrannfiup; the arcuate member '54 tot' n 't under non mal con d itions directly `faces lof tl'iev edges of 1t draft yb;

ithe 'u l)per s ui- SWBQI l provide"suitable anv fric .onp'rneansprefe f ably arranged 'between the bars and I iii' such ,ground or the like,` the tractororimplement (1,00

"respectively tend tofdepartfroin a vertical i y* v claim position as to contact with the lower edge of the arcuate member, which means conveniently comprise a roller Z0 arranged to rotate on a horizontally .disposed longitudinally extending axle il journaled in supports l2 riveted or 'otherwise secured in fixed position between or vadjacent the bars 35, the diameter ofthe roller being such that its upper surface'ivill extend slightly above the upper edges of the bars. 1With the parts so arranged the roller alone contacts Wit-h the arcuate member thus `minimizing the friction between the bars and the member when the tractor is .beinesteered, While when relative rolling` movement occurs betiveen the tractor and the implement the member and roller remain constantly in Contact.

lllhile in the particular form of implement which l have typically illustrated the draft bars 35 are oirected upwardly and fixedly secured at a relatively high point to the yoke shaped axle of the implement, it will be understood that such an arrangement is in no manner essential as with other types of implements it is frequently more convenient to secure the rear ends of the draft bars or equivalent means to some point relatively lovi7 doivn on the lframe or axle of the implement, and hence any suitable and convenient method of attaching the bars to the implement may be employed so lona` as there is provided a horizontally disposed forwardly extending portion adapted for disposal beneath the arcuate niemeer either for direct contact therewith or contact through the medium of suitable anti-friction means and terminating in an eye or equivalent means for connection with the pin. Moreover it will be understood that the particular form and construction of the tractor itself is immaterial; that the braclets 50 nd 5l or equivalent means may be rigidly and preferably removably supported on the tractor in manners other than that shown and that changes and modi cations may 'be made in the form, construction and arrangement of various elements and in the sevenl parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims.

flaring thus described my invention'l and des 'e to protect by Letters t of the lli ed States:

fl. -lrleans for coupli a` trailinf,` implonicut or the' like to a actor and comprising a bracket i operatively fined at mchfncnt to tbe tractor. an armate member supported at the rear cud of the bracket, an L-shaped pivot pin supported adjacent tbe forward ond of the bracket. rotatable on a Qjitudinally extending horizontal and liar/ing a vertically extending portion, draft means extending rearwardly to the implement beneath said arcuate member loi and adapted to support said arcuate member vertically, and ymeans for e'ecting a movable connection between the vertically extending portion of the pin and said draft means.

2. Means for coupling a trailing implement or the lilre to a tractor and comprising a bracket adapted for operatively fixed attachment to the tractor, a horizontally and transversely extending member supported by said bracket, a pivot pin comprising portions disposed in angular relation with each other supported adjacent the forward end of the bracket, draft means extending rearivardly to the implement beneath said member and adapted to afford vertical support to said member, and means for effecting a movable connection between the pin and said draft means. l y

3. Means for coupling a trailing implement or the like to a tractor and comprising a pair of laterally spaced brackets adapted for operatively fixed attachment to the tractor, an arcuate member extending in a horizontal plane and supportedv at the rear ends of said brackets, the forward ends of said brackets being respectively turned inwardly to provide longitudinally spaced portions, an l.-shaped pivot pin journaled in said portionsof the brackets and having a vertically extending portion, draft means extending rearwardly to the implement beneath said arcuate member, and means for effecting a horizontally movable connection between the vertically extending portion of the pin and said draft means.

il. Means for coupling the draft means of a trailing` implement to a tractor, comprising a member adapted for rigid attachment to the tractor in horizontally disposed transversely extending position, a pivot pin having` respectively7 angularly disposed parts, and meansfor supporting one part of the pin in front of said member for rotation on va horizontal axis, the other part of the pin when so supported being adapted for connection to said draft means.

5. Means `for coupling the draft means of a trailing implement to a tractor, comprising a substantially arcuate member adapted for attachment to the tractor in horizontal and transversely extending position, an ila-shaped pivot pin and means for supporting .said pin in front of said member for rotation on a horizontal. axis and operat-ive to limit the rearward movement ot the pin, one end of the pin when so supported being adapted for attachment to said draft means.

rl`he combination with a tractor of means for effecting a connection With the draft means of a trailing implement and comprising a transversely extending horizontally disposed member rigid With the tractor, an L-shaped pin and means for sup- 1,446,125 f v i' porting said pin in front of said member ltation ofthe otherportion and being adapt,-

zontal axis, said supporting means additionmeans of ythe' implement. v 10 ally forming e stop for limiting the rear.- y In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set said pin when so supported extendingv at substantially rightangles to the axis of rorJOSEPH` MADER.

`Wherehy said pin is free to rotate on avhoried for` operative connection to the draft Ward movement `of the pin, one portion of myhand this 11th dayof March5A. D. 1921. 

